Battle Against the Sand Ninja

Outside the Forest of Death.

The Genin who had passed the first round followed Mitaraishi Anko's father there.

"This is where your next exam will take place: the Forest of Death."

The Forest of Death.

The name alone told them it was dangerous.

"Scared already, you cowards from Kumogakure?"

"Hmph. It's a fitting place to bury you Sand Shinobi!"

Hostile voices rang out as the Sand Shinobi and Kumogakure ninja glared at each other.

They were Genin, but they shouted threats like a pack of street thugs.

"You seem pleased with the exam site I prepared."

"Now, everyone come forward and sign this consent form. If you won't sign, you can get lost right now."

Mitarashi Moriaki, who had a scar across his face, spoke coldly.

"If you don't want to die in there, hurry up and leave, Sand Shinobi."

The Kumogakure ninja were the first to sign the waiver, and they made sure to taunt the Sunagakure ninja as they did.

Madara Uchiha would later say that, in the world of ninja, there was a chain of hatred that could not be broken.

It was unavoidable.

War broke out far too often in this world. Too many people died on the battlefield, their blood staining the earth.

Each of them had family and friends.

Those who came after inherited their hatred and grudges, despising other ninja villages and never forgetting.

This is the world of ninja.

Kazan had known that for a long time.

He was no saint. There was only so much he could do about such things; living his own life well was enough.

Kazan stepped forward and signed his name...

"Good. Next, I'll announce the rules for the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Mitarashi Moriaki waited until everyone had signed before revealing the exam rules.

"Before you enter the Forest of Death, you'll receive either a Heaven Scroll or an Earth Scroll from me!"

"The condition for passing is simple. Get one of each scroll by any means you choose, then reach the building at the center of the Forest of Death."

So that's what eliminating more than half of us means.

Each team could receive only one of the two scrolls. They would have to take the other from someone else.

That meant fewer than half the teams could remain in the end, didn't it?

A chill ran through some of the candidates.

They had no way of knowing which teams held the Scroll they needed.

They might defeat or even kill another team, only to find that its Scroll was still the wrong one.

The elimination and death rates would be terrifyingly high—over fifty percent!

"You're practically forcing us to fight other teams to the death!"

"That's right. I'm making you fight each other. Don't be so naive, brats. The world of ninja is cruel."

Mitarashi Moriaki laughed, pulling at the scar on his face. He looked downright sinister.

"One final rule: no one may read the contents of the Heaven Scroll or Earth Scroll during the exam. Anyone caught looking without permission will be disqualified."

"Now, all teams will enter the Forest of Death in groups!"

With that final command, the second round officially began.

The ninja teams entered the Forest of Death in groups.

When Kazan's team's turn came, the three exchanged a glance, then picked up speed and entered the forest.

"Let's finish this quickly. Inuzuka, Aburame, have your dog and insects track down the other ninja teams by scent and traces."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Kuromaru!"

Tsume Inuzuka had the same personality her son Kiba Inuzuka would have someday: energetic and brimming with confidence.

"Woof!"

Kuromaru barked beneath her and began tracking a scent.

Shibi Aburame said nothing. A dense, countless swarm of insects simply flew out from his body.

Kazan had to admire the Aburame. They carried insects on themselves every day. Didn't it itch?

The three raced through the forest.

"Woof!"

Before long, Kuromaru barked beneath Tsume Inuzuka.

"Found them. Twelve o'clock, about a kilometer away."

"Nice. Your dog's got a good nose. Catch up as fast as you can—I'm going on ahead!"

Shave!

Kazan stopped waiting. His Observation Haki had already picked up movement ahead.

The potential range of Observation Haki was immense.

Marine Admiral Fujitora could even detect Meteorites beyond the sky with his Observation Haki, then use his power to pull them down onto his enemies.

Kazan couldn't do that yet. His Observation Haki could barely cover one kilometer.

Whoosh!

Tsume Inuzuka and Shibi Aburame saw a blur. By the time they spotted Kazan again, he was already dozens of meters away.

Was he holding back to keep pace with us this whole time? Tsume Inuzuka was stunned, but another thought quickly struck her. Is that lunatic planning to take on an entire team alone?

"Run faster, Kuromaru!"

"Woof!"

Tsume Inuzuka accelerated after him. Shibi Aburame thought they should observe the other team more carefully before making a move.

Unfortunately, his two teammates had no intention of doing that.

"We should come up with a battle plan..."

He spoke to empty air. His teammates were already gone.

Kazan covered the kilometer in no time, and a three-person ninja team appeared ahead of him.

"Sand Shinobi. Lucky me!"

Kazan spotted his targets, and they spotted him too.

"A Konoha ninja!"

"He's alone?"

"It's that youngest brat!"

The Sand Shinobi were startled when they saw the Konoha Forehead Protector. Once they realized Kazan was alone, they immediately decided to kill him on the spot.

"Don't let your guard down. His teammates might be nearby!"

"So what? We'll deal with him first, then find the other two."

One of the Sand Shinobi prepared to kill Kazan right there.

"Hand over your scroll, Sand ninja!"

Kazan crushed a tree trunk underfoot and leaped high above the three Sand Shinobi.

He had told them to hand it over, but his attack was already ready.

"Fist Bone!"

He clenched his right fist, and Chakra surged through his body, gathering in his hand.

He had not awakened Armament Haki, so he used Chakra in its place.

A terrifying surge of Chakra erupted, and the three Sand Shinobi below him went pale.

They sensed something dreadful gathering in Kazan's fist.

Then...

"Impact!"

Kazan drove his fist down without holding anything back. The Chakra in his hand burst forth like a galaxy falling from the sky.

Boom!

A massive, invisible impact slammed down, blasting the air apart. Violent shockwaves swept in every direction.

The ground split like tofu beneath that single punch, leaving a huge crater.

The three Sand Genin dodged as fast as they could, but the force of the blow still sent them flying.

"What kind of technique is that?!"

They had never seen anything like it. The sheer violence of it was staggering.

One punch had caused more destruction than any Ninjutsu they knew. Its power was frightening.

"Watch out, Irani!"

The shockwaves from Kazan's punch were still spreading, but the sharpest-sensed member of the Sand team had already tracked his movement.

The Konoha brat who had been in the air moments ago was already in front of his teammate.

"What?!"

At the warning, she hurriedly turned. Sure enough, she saw Kazan's impossibly young face—and his clenched fist.

"Hey there, Sand Shinobi!"

Boom!

Almost at the same instant, Kazan's fist struck her with unstoppable force.

Crack!

Irani felt the bones in her back break. The punch sent her body flying beyond her control.

Thud!

She crashed into a tree, then dropped helplessly to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

In their first clash, the Sand team had already lost one member!